De-Anglicisation of Names

[starbkjrus]

Ok, I'll toss this one out as it has proved a bit vexing to me. My surname is Kellett; sometimes rendered as Kellet or in some of the oldest references I've seen as de Kellet.

The family traditions have always been that we are Scots and the family is quite proud of our historical connections to the Stewarts (although I can't find anyone who knows exactly WHAT those connections are :rolleyes: Other than marriage anyway.). I WILL say that the first son in each generation since Culloden is named Charles. Before that time it more ran to Joseph or Talmadge or James. My branch of the family seems to have arrived here in the early to mid 1700's.

The "bucket shops" on the net seem to all agree that the family originates in Lancashire, England (in the 12th century) and there are two villages east of Lancaster named Over Kellet and Nether Kellet. (According to one of the village's websites "kellet" means spring or stream in northern England.) Don't know much about the history in that area but hope to so some sleuthing in person next year.

So, the family says we are Scots and in District Tartans there is a reference to Kellet as a Scottish surname that should wear the Tyneside (Englsih) district tartan. What were we doing in England?

Sorry,

Any clue on the surname?